“Cade had said you’d gotten with the big wigs,” the Spider says. “Dress shopping with the Akatovs.”
His fake pleasantness grates on me.
“Is the food at Fujimori’s good?” he asks.
He’s no doubt been before. No one would have even noticed the man eating ramen. They had no idea who sat at the restaurant.
He wants you to be intimidated.
It’s Hadrian’s voice, and he’s right.
“You haven’t taken the shot yet,” I point out. He’d been so sneaky, he could have passed for the Ghost. One shot in the head, gone before Luis or one of the Akatov guards noticed.
The Spider laughs slightly, rocking on his heels. “Take your phone out, Isolde.”
I hate his use of my first name.
“Text your guard that you’ve found a big fish and you’re going to make a move. God knows you’ve made a name for yourself. Collecting contracts left and right.”
“Is that what you’re doing?” I ask. “Don’t the Spider’s?—”
“You know nothing.” His hands are still clasped in front of him. He appears unbothered, but he won’t be taking any questions. “Now be a good girl and take out your phone.”
I pull it from my back pocket and write the text out to Luis.
“Turn it off.”
I switch the phone off, showing him the dark screen.
“Very good,” he praises, making my hackles rise. It’s no wonder he gets along with Cade. They’re both misogynistic pricks. “Now let’s go home, shall we?”
The Spider is in the driver’s seat of a black sedan. It’s a rental, a clean linen scent wafting from an air freshener.
Was I stupid getting into this car?
Everyone would tell me yes. But the truth is not many understand just how dangerous a Spider is.
There’s nothing in the car. Not a bottle of water, or a bag, or even a piece of trash. I’m not in the trunk, so I can’t be sure, but I’d say the Spider travels light.
He told me to get into the front seat and locked the doors. He hasn’t shown any signs of aggression. At least other than the baby names and the way he smirks when I follow his orders.
The car is silent, except for the occasional sound of the blinker. He used his windshield wipers after a bird took a massive shit on the front window. I took that as a sign of things to come.
“No music?” I ask. The car picks up speed as we enter the highway. I keep my eyes forward, scanning the sky. The longer we’re in the car, the more my heart rate ticks up.
Cade sent a triggerman the past two tries. The Spider will know how to use every weapon available to him. Gun, axe, knife, sword, or fucking nunchucks if he wanted. He hasn’t revealed a single weapon on him yet.
I expected death, but what I’m getting is so much worse.
Especially, because as we follow the highway, the truth begins to wash over me.
We’re headed to a private airstrip. He intends to take me back to the UK. Back to Cade.
“You normally used as a valet service?” I ask. So far not a single thing I say has upset him. “Seems kind of like an entry-level job for someone with your expertise.”
I’m not joking. The Spider should be offended at the request.
“So does, like, Cade have somethingon you?”
